The Myth of the Computer Revolution

There is a related but somewhat more dangerous misconception that the computing industry seems to foster and this is the myth that computer causes change, perhaps even revolutionary change. The truth is quite the opposite. Computers have always been used by industry and government as a way to avoid change and to reinforce the status quo. Many companies and departments adopted electronic computers so that they would not have to innovate and to find ways to achieve their objectives. Using computers, big organizations exert far more control over their operations, their employees, and eventually their clients. The changes do not bring innovation but consolidation.